Page 51 of Glow

Dan touched his own amulets, mirroring Quinn’s action. “Better. The problem is still out there, but just knowing we’re not alone, that I’m not alone, makes a big difference. Witches, spells, amulets, it’s all a bit much to take in, but I’m going to trust that they help. There’s got to be a way to stop creatures like the wurm, or people would have died out long ago. As for Harrison, we’ll have to keep our eyes open and hope the cops can stop him before he finds us.” Dan sounded less certain about the bounty hunter than the monster, but Quinn understood.

“If you still want to come out to the woods with me tomorrow, we can do that,” Quinn promised. “I feel a little better with the new amulets. It’s the safest we’re going to get for you to shift. Unless you could somehow go to an arboretum somewhere⁠—”

“I am not going to break into a fancy garden to shift,” Dan replied, although Quinn was pretty sure his mate knew he had been kidding. “They probably have even more security cameras. I’d end up on TV, and maybe on their next batch of tote bags!”

They both laughed, and Quinn felt some of the tension in his chest loosen. The danger hadn’t ended, but they were more protected than they had been before, and they had powerful allies.

“We’ll get through this.” Quinn pulled Dan in for a hug. “I don’t know that we’ll ever look back on this fondly, but once we get to the other side, we can start building a whole new life together.”

He pressed a kiss to Dan’s cheek. “You’re the best thing that ever happened to me. I’m not letting anything or anyone get in the way of that.”

CHAPTER 9

DAN

Dan tossed and turned, waking several times during the night. He figured his restlessness came from being overdue to shift, and ended up lying awake, staring at the ceiling to keep from bothering Quinn.

Can we stop the wurm before it kills more people? Did it take the folks who have gone missing? Harrison is still out there, hunting us. We’ve got the law on our side, but guys like him don’t care about the rules, he thought. I don’t want to get eaten or shot. I want to live a nice, long, boring life with Quinn.

We’re safer than we were before, Wally pointed out, after having been quiet most of the day. We have friends and protection. We’re not on our own.

I wish you remembered more about what happened in past incarnations, Dan told him. We might pick up some good ideas on how to ditch the bounty hunter.

A lot of time has passed. I suspect we’ve been in danger before, but since we survived, I guess it wasn’t important enough for me to remember, Wally said.

Dan figured that made sense. On one hand, the idea of remembering multiple lifetimes in detail seemed overwhelming. On the other, that firsthand witness to history would have been fascinating, better than any television special.

What little I can recall suggests people are much the same from age to age. I don’t think the day-to-day was worth remembering, Wally said.

Dan thought back over his own life in the last few years, and other than gaining Wally and now Quinn, he had to agree that most days were quietly forgettable and that was often a blessing.

Rest, Wally urged. I will be alert and stand guard. We need to be strong to handle what’s coming.

Dan hoped Wally could sense the gratitude he sent through their bond. He managed to drift off and stay asleep until the alarm woke him in a panic, disoriented and wide-eyed, hours later.

“Chill. It’s okay,” Quinn told him when Dan jackknifed awake. “You’re safe.”

Dan took a couple of deep breaths. “Sorry. I guess I was really deep under.”

“I’m glad you got some rest. It took a while for you to relax,” Quinn replied.

“I’m sorry, didn’t mean to keep you awake,” Dan replied. “I can sleep on the couch.”

“Absolutely not. I’d rather know for sure you’re safe and close to me even if I wake up a lot,” Quinn told him. “Because then I wouldn’t sleep. We’re mates and are better when we’re together.”

Dan chuckled. “We’re quite a pair. Wally says he stood guard.”

Quinn nodded. “I ask the nature spirits to surround us when I get ready for bed, and let me know if there’s danger. They might not be able to do something besides wake me, but I figure that’s still an advantage.”

Morning sex took the edge off. Dan and Quinn had already fallen into a comfortable familiarity that felt natural and like they had been together much longer. Dan loved learning what revved Quinn’s engine, and he appreciated that Quinn was an attentive lover equally interested in how to give pleasure as well as receive.

“Better?” Quinn asked after they capped their lovemaking with kisses.

“Much,” Dan replied, warm and sated. “If we keep this up, I might actually learn to like mornings.”

“I think we can manage that,” Quinn joked. “It’s good to have goals.”

They showered and dressed, then sat down to a quick breakfast of coffee, toast with peanut butter, and orange juice.